Surah Ar-Rum 30:54-60 - Quran Translation Commentary

(30:54) Allah it is who created you in (a state of) weakness, then made after weakness strength; then made after strength, weakness and hoary-head. He creates what He will; and He is the All-knowing, the All-powerful.

(30:55) The Day the Hour⁶⁹ strikes, the criminals will swear (that) they tarried not but an hour. That is how they were being deluded.

(30:56) But those who were given knowledge and faith will say, ‘Indeed you tarried by Allah’s decree to the day of resurrection. This then is the day of resurrection, but you were not knowing.’

(30:57) That day, the excuses of the transgressors will not profit them, nor will they be asked to make amends.

(30:58) Surely, We have set forth for the people in this Qur’an all manner of similitude. And, even if you brought them a sign, those who have disbelieved will surely say, ‘You are all not but indulging in vain.’

(30:59) That is how Allah sets the seals upon the hearts of those who do not know.

(30:60) So, patiently persevere; surely, Allah’s promise is true. And let not those who do not believe make light of you.⁷⁰

Commentary

69. The “Hour” has been so called because it will be the last hour of this world (Zmakhshari).

70. “That is,” writes Mawdudi, “Let not the enemies find you so weak as to suppress you by their uproar, nor to cow you down by their campaign of slander-mongering, nor dishearten you by their jesting, taunts and derisions, nor frighten you by their threats, show of power and persecution, nor allure you by offering baits, nor force you to effect a compromise with them …”

Off the main implications, Ibn Jarir and others report that one of the Khawarij was Praying behind `Ali ibn Abi Talib in a Fajr Prayer. (The Khawarij fought against him because they believed he had abandoned Islam by making peace with Mu`awiyyah, and by sheltering `Uthman’s murderers, an allegation which had no basis but in evil suspicion: Au.). While ‘Ali was reciting the man shouted the following Qur’anic verse from the rear (39: 65),

لَئِنْ أَشْرَكْتَ لَيَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ وَلَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ - الزمر (65)

“But if you commit association (with Allah), your deeds will go waste and you will surely be of the losers.” `Ali fell silent for a moment, weighing his answer, then recited this last verse of this Surah:

فَاصْبِرْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَلا يَسْتَخِفَّنَّكَ الَّذِينَ لا يُوقِنُونَ (الروم – 60)

“So, patiently persevere. Surely, Allah’s promise is true. And let not those who do not believe make light of you.” The report is in Ibn Abi Hatim also (Ibn Kathir). And, what `Ali meant perhaps by replying to the man’s taunt with this verse was that if he was so sure of his (`Ali’s) apostasy then, he ought to remain patient, persevering in his belief, without spilling blood over the issue (Au.).

At this point Ibn Kathir also quotes a hadith from Ahmad transmitted by `Abdul Malik b. `Umayr. It is as follows:

وعن عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ عُمَيْرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ شَبِيبًا أَبَا رَوْحٍ مِنْ ذِي الْكَلَاعِ عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَنَّهُ صَلَّى مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الصُّبْحَ فَقَرَأَ بِالرُّومِ فَتَرَدَّدَ فِي آيَةٍ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يَلْبِسُ عَلَيْنَا الْقُرْآنَ أَنَّ أَقْوَامًا مِنْكُمْ يُصَلُّونَ مَعَنَا لَا يُحْسِنُونَ الْوُضُوءَ فَمَنْ شَهِدَ الصَّلَاةَ مَعَنَا فَلْيُحْسِنْ الْوُضُوءَ - رواه أحمد ورجاله رجال الصحيح.‏ (الهيثمي)

Ibn `Umayr said, “I heard from Shabib Abu Ruh Dhu al-Kila` that he Prayed behind the Prophet. He recited Surah al-Rum. However, he got confused a bit. After it was over, he turned to them and remarked, “We got confused over the Qur’an because some among you who offer Prayers with us do not do their ablution properly. So, let anyone who attends the Prayers with us, do his ablution well.” This hadith, remarks Ibn Kathir, although of Hasan status, tells us in definitive terms that the Imam and the followers in a Prayer are inter-related - acts of one affect the other.

Haythami has, however, declared it containing a chain which is that of the Sahih collections (Au.).